Memo from Hershkoff to Counsel Re: Jencks Memo; from Lado to Chambers Re: Attorneys Fees
Correspondence
September 17, 1990

2 pages
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Connecticut, Case Files, Sheff v. O'Neill Hardbacks. Memo from Hershkoff to Counsel Re: Jencks Memo; from Lado to Chambers Re: Attorneys Fees, 1990. f7df0dac-a146-f011-877a-002248226c06. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/d1861927-b5f7-4380-b408-ed032503732a/memo-from-hershkoff-to-counsel-re-jencks-memo-from-lado-to-chambers-re-attorneys-fees. Accessed September 18, 2025.
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National Headquarters 132 West 43 Street New York, NY 10036 (212) 944-9800 Norman Dorsen PRESIDENT MEMORANDUM Ira Glasser EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Eleanor Holmes Norton CHAIR TO: Sheff Team NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL i Helen Hershkoff FROM: Helen Hershkoff# % ion DATE: September 17, 1990 3 Christopher Jencks Enclosed is a law student memo summarizing critiques of Christopher Jencks' Inequality. The articles are on file at the ACLU. A memo on Jencks' more recent book is also being prepared and will be distributed as soon as it is available. MEMORANDUM To : Julius LeVonne Chambers From : Marianne Lado Date : September 6, 1990 Re : Attorneys Fees in Sheff v. O'Neill Enclosed please find a copy of Doe Vv. State of Connecticut, a decision rendered by the Connecticut Supreme Court in July, 1990. Wesley Horton, who argued Doe and is LDF co- counsel in Sheff, interprets Doe as precluding an award of attorneys fees in our case. In Doe, the Connecticut court concluded that the first article, §10 of the state constitution, which provides, "All courts shall be open, and every person, for an injury done to him . . shall have remedy . . .," does not create a right to attorney's fees. 216 "Conn. 85, . 106 (1990). The court, further, rejected arguments for the adoption of a "private attorney general" doctrine or "substantial benefit" standard for the award of attorney fees. 216 Conn. at 108-109. Plaintiffs in Sheff have no other independent statutory basis for an award of fees. Please let me know if Doe raises any questions. MEL A¢E€A4 MEL: ja Enclosure co : Steve Ralston Ron Ellis V